“I’ve spoken now to the two reporters and their editor and I’m satisfied with their explanations that they did not feel they drew enough of sufficient broad reader interest from the interviews or the protest – the numbers of people, what if any stir it might be causing, etc – to include in our related stories on those days.

I’m sure that won’t be satisfying to you, I’m sorry.

I would only add that you may guess given the volatility of the Gaza boats story and the charged emotion on both sides, we have been very circumspect about what we are writing locally about the subject.

You should know, for instance, that I have turned away unsolicited opinion pieces by writers from each side in recent days and we have been very careful about the letters we’re allowing into print.”